Acts 24

Ananias brings a great orator to testify against Paul. I find it interesting that Paul is accused of being a member of a sect called the Nazarenes. It reminds of how evangelicals will call us a sect of Mormons. A sect is an offshoot of religious fanatics that believe in doctrines that are extreme and sometimes dangerous. To accuse someone of being a part of a sect is to brand them a heretic and a believer in things that common sense says are false. Paul testifies that he did nothing to break the law and the Jews know it. Felix, realizes that Paul is right and this is a matter for Jewish law, not Roman. So he leaves Paul under house arrest for two years until he is replaced by Festus. As a favor to the Jews, Felix does not render any decision on Paul when he leaves.